[nimbo2]

It was the third time that Lorna was late submitting an assignment for marking. The first time the tutor accepted her excuse that she'd been ill. The second time he told her he would accept it late but if it happened again he'd fail her. So this third time he was on the point of failing her when she said 'Is there anything I can do to avoid that?'. She was surprised when he said 'yes', and even more surprised when he told her that it meant in future, whenever she submitted work for marking, she would have to 'attend for an oral assessment'. She knew what that meant . . .

She was desperate to get a good degree. Her mum had been so proud of her when she completed the London marathon, and she wanted her mum proud of her getting a good degree too. But the only way to get that degree was by blowing the tutor every time she submitted work for marking.

Could she do that? 'It won't be as hard as training for the marathon', she said to herself, 'and I do it for the guys I date. So, what the f***! I'll do it'.

And she did.